A separate code of conduct especially for pupils in the West Midlands should be drawn up, a Birmingham MP has suggested.

Steve McCabe (Lab Hall Green) said the guidelines would reflect differing standards of discipline expected in different parts of the country.

He said the behaviour code could even be tailored to different parts of the region.

His comments come at a time of increased focus on how to tackle unruly behaviour in schools.

The Government is investigating the possibility of establishing a national discipline code setting out "roles and responsibilities of schools, pupils and parents, in promoting good behaviour".

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But Mr McCabe, a parliamentary private secretary to Education Secretary Ruth Kelly, said: "I am not convinced I favour a national discipline code.

"You could argue that what is tolerable should be the same everywhere but my view is if you are teaching in the East End of London with children speaking 26 different languages, that may be different from Swanshurst School for Girls in Kings Heath. I favour a set of minimum standards of what is and isn't tolerable.

"But I think there should be some kind of localised procedure so whatever happens you would expect the same behaviour from schools in the same locality."

The MP said such a system would also stop parents moving their children around when their behaviour proved unacceptable at one school.

Last week Mr McCabe called a meeting of head teachers and school governors in Birmingham to discuss how to deal with ill-discipline in schools.

Their thoughts will feed into a national strategy which could result in a tougher stance on school hooligans.

More specialised training for teachers in managing pupils is also being considered.

Mr McCabe said: "If there are things that people are finding difficult and the stress in classrooms is too much, then at an earlier stage we should pick this up and see what kind of help and support they need."

Fines for parents and parenting contracts to ensure mothers and fathers take responsibility for their children may also be stepped up in the future.

Mr McCabe claimed parents needed to know what their responsibilities were.

"We are in danger of being in a situation where people are slightly more fixated on their rights than their responsibilities," he said.

"There is no point in telling us your rights if you are oblivious to your responsibilities.

"Parents have a responsibility to get their children to the school in a proper state to be educated and back the school when there is an issue."

Last week's meeting drew from the experiences of teachers in several Birmingham secondary schools.

Mr McCabe is to send a report to Ms Kelly based on their feedback.

"We've come a long way in tackling serious bad behaviour in our schools but zero tolerance and a culture of respect must be the norm in schools all of the time," he added.

"If anti-social attitudes are not effectively managed at a secondary school level, badly behaving students may fall by the wayside and we run the risk that this bad behaviour will transform into criminal behaviour when these children enter our communities as adults."

shahid_naqvi@mrn.co.uk

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